Universal ticket transport

ABSTRACT

A Universal Ticket Transport (UTT)  10, 150  may be configured to read from and write to many types of magnetically encoded tickets  20  currently used in fare collection systems. The UTT  10, 150  includes a mechanical insertion interface and automated movement along a transport path  18  for tickets  20  of varying thicknesses that are presented at a range of different angles  40, 42  into and exiting from the UTT  10, 150.  The UTT  10, 150  includes a mechanical assembly  156, 158  which may be rotated, and the belts  22, 24, 152, 154  and rollers  30, 32, 34, 36  reconfigured, to accommodate tickets  20  having top-face or bottom face magnetic stripes. The belt subassemblies A, C and the magnetic head subassembly B are configurable across a width W of the UTT  10, 150  to process tickets  20  having magnetic stripes which are offset from a center line  86.  The UTT  10, 150  includes a control processor  200  having analog to digital interfaces  216  and control logic  202, 204  for operating the transport mechanisms  212  locally and communicating data through a serial interface  220  to a host system  222.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e)to provisional U.S. Patent Application No. 60/314,564 filed Aug. 24,2001, and provisional U.S. Patent Application No. 60/318,769 filed Sep.12, 2001 which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to card and ticket readers, and morespecifically to an electromechanical universal ticket transport assemblydesigned to handle reading and writing of magnetically encoded cards andtickets of various formats.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Magnetic stripe technology is used throughout the world foridentification (ID) and credit/debit transaction processes. Othertechnologies which can store more information, such as contact andcontactless smart cards, continue to capture more of the magnetic stripemarket as systems are upgraded. However, magnetic stripe cards, ortickets, remain a dominant technology, particularly for systems whichhave been in operation for a substantial time, such as mass transitsystems.

Most fare collection systems of mass transit systems throughout theworld accept credit card size magnetic stripe tickets. The ticketmaterial and thickness, the location of the magnetic stripe, as well asthe magnetic stripe format, vary from system to system. The most commondesign, conforming to the ISO standard, ISO-7810, entitled“Identification Cards—Physical Characteristics”, specifies the locationof a single magnetic stripe. However, many mass transit authorities havecustomized tickets to avoid cross-use of tickets from one transit systemto another. Customization of tickets may include variations on thenumber and the location of magnetic stripes. One or more magneticstripes may be located on the front and back faces of the card. Themagnetic stripe may be located in the center of the card, or offset toeither side of center. Examples of tickets currently in use in transitsystems throughout the world include a ticket configuration of a singlemagnetic stripe in a center position on the ticket back face, a singlemagnetic stripe offset on the ticket front face, and two magneticstripes offset from the center on the ticket back.

In addition to location and number of magnetic stripes, tickets may varyin the type of magnetic media which ranges from low to high coercivity.Coercivity is a technical term used to designate the strength of amagnetic field required to affect data encoded on a magnetic stripe.Cards that are used in daily transactions typically have a highcoercivity to provide the highest level of immunity to damage by straymagnetic fields. A further variation is in the track configuration ofeach magnetic stripe. For example, ANSI/ISO standards define three tracklocations for the magnetic stripe on credit/financial cards. The tracksare 0.110″ (0.279 cm) wide, with Track 1 closest to the card edge. Eachtrack is utilized to store specific data types. Custom cards may specifythe number of tracks and the data types stored on those tracks.

Customization of tickets presents disadvantages when modifications orupdates of automatic fare collection (AFC) equipment is required sinceeach custom ticket requires a custom-designed ticket processor. Inaddition, the mechanical structure of the ticket processor must beconsidered for each installation as the mechanism of the ticketprocessor may vary, not only between different transit authorities, butalso may vary between different automatic fare collection equipment ofthe same transit authority. As a result, each custom ticket readerrequires separate parts inventory for both the mechanical and electricalsystems.

Therefore, a need remains for a universal ticket processor,reader/writer, which may be configured for all types of magneticallyencoded tickets currently used in fare collection systems throughout theworld.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an advantage of the present invention to provide a universalticket transport that may be configured to read from and write to manytypes of magnetically encoded tickets currently used in fare collectionsystems throughout the world.

It is another advantage to provide a ticket transport that can process arange of ticket thicknesses.

Still another advantage is to provide a universal ticket transporthaving a mechanical insertion interface and automated movement fortickets presented at a range of different angles into and exiting fromthe mechanism.

It is yet another advantage to provide a control processor having analogto digital interfaces and control logic for operating the transportmechanisms locally and communicating data through a serial interface toa host system.

Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a shaft encoderand motor interface which reads from and writes to a variety of cards ofdiffering bit densities.

In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention the UniversalTicket Transport (UTT), also referred to herein as “the transport”, isconfigurable for all types of magnetically encoded tickets currentlyused in automatic fare collection (AFC) systems throughout the world.The UTT may be configured for tickets conforming to the ISO standardformat for credit card-sized tickets, as well as for other ticketshaving variations of center and offset magnetic stripes on the top faceor on the bottom face of the ticket. The UTT of the exemplary embodimentreads from and writes to low and high coercivity magnetic media.Transport belt assemblies of the UTT allow tickets of variousthicknesses, e.g., ranging from 0.006″ to 0.011″, to be accepted by theUTT. A mechanical interface of the UTT provides automated movement fortickets presented at a range of different angles into and exiting fromthe UTT. The UTT further includes a control processor printed circuitboard that provides analog to digital interfaces for local operation andcontrol of the UTT, and a serial interface to a host system for controlof the data communication between the ticket and the host system.

A ticket is moved through the Universal Ticket Transport mechanism heldbetween two belts. The UTT of the exemplary embodiment includes two beltassemblies, each having a set of belts. The belts are made from anelastic material and installed onto belt rollers in a stretchedcondition, so that tensioners are not required. The belt rollers arelocated at the ends and in the middle of the transport. Two rollers ateach end of the UTT function as drive rollers for moving the sets ofbelts in a forward or reverse direction. The drive rollers arepositioned onto shafts mounted in ball bearings located in side platesof the UTT. The drive rollers at the entrance end of the transport pathare connected to a UTT or a host motor which provides the power inputfor the movement of the belts. For each drive roller there is a gear andtiming pulley assembly mounted on the drive roller shaft. The two gearsmesh to drive both drive rollers at the same speed and help preventslippage of the ticket between the two belts. The timing pulley couplesthe drive from the motor via a timing belt. The gears are arranged toalways mesh irrespective of the roller configuration positions. If thetransport is used in an application where the drive is provided by ahost motor, then a belt from that host mechanism is coupled to one ofthe pulleys.

The rollers in the middle of the transport provide the pinch to maintaina hold on the ticket. The middle rollers also shape the ticket to passover the magnetic head assembly in the most optimum manner. The beltpath of the exemplary embodiment is offset to one side of the transportand may be assembled in this position irrespective of the location ofthe magnetic head assembly. However, the belt assemblies and themagnetic head assembly of the exemplary embodiment may be arranged alonga width of the UTT to accommodate a variety of magnetic stripelocations. The magnetic head type and position also are configured tosuit the magnetic stripe position and coercivity for the ticket typethat will be processed. The location and quantity of the heads is alsodependent upon the application for the UTT mechanism. For a vendingmachine, i.e., a ticket issue application, one combined write and readhead is used. For a ticket processor in a gate application, two headsare used, including a combined write and read head, and a verifyread-only head. The gate mechanism uses the second verify head toprovide verification during the encoding process, thus reducing theprocess time.

The transport rollers of the exemplary embodiment can be assembled toaccommodate different angles for the tickets to enter and exit thetransport. A variety of holes for the bearings that support thetransport rollers are provided at each end of the transport side plates.The most suitable set of holes are selected during assembly at thefactory. To provide the opposite configuration for top or bottommagnetic stripes, the transport is inverted, and the rollers and beltsare installed into alternate sets of bearing holes to accommodate theentry and exit path angles.

The UTT of the exemplary embodiment has a local processor circuit, orcontroller, attached to the transport assembly. The controller has amicroprocessor, motor and sensor driver interfaces, and magnetic readand write head circuitry. The controller provides local control tooperate the transport mechanisms, and communicates data through a serialinterface to a host system. Interface connections for additional sensorslocated in entry/exit bezels or other host equipment are provided to thelocal controller via cables and connectors.

The drive motor of the exemplary embodiment is a DC motor gearboxassembly that has an integral shaft encoder. The motor drives thetransport in a forward or a reverse direction. The motor is mounted on asub plate that can be located in various areas of the transport. Theshaft encoder provides the timing pulse for the magnetic encoding andticket positional information. Connectors and cables electricallyconnect the motor and shaft encoder to the controller.

In an exemplary method of the present invention, the UTT is configuredwith write/read heads above a transport assembly for cards having a topstripe, and below a transport assembly for tickets having a bottomstripe. A patron inserts a ticket “face-up” into an entry bezel. A bezelentry sensor determines whether the ticket is valid and properlyinserted. The accepted ticket continues into the transport passed awrite entry sensor to initiate the read function of a read/writemagnetic head. The ticket travels over the read/write head untilcompletely read. The transport belt then reverses direction, and theticket moves back over the read/write head. The transport belt thenreverses to advance the ticket for encoding using the read/write head.The ticket is operated upon in a write-only capacity on the firstmagnetic read/write head. As the ticket moves forward over the verifyhead, the verify process is initiated simultaneously on the verify head.A verify exit sensor indicates that the ticket verify process iscomplete. The ticket moves out of the transport through the exit bezelto a point where the ticket is no longer in the belt pinch at position.A bezel exit sensor indicates that the ticket has exited the UniversalTicket Transport.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be better understood from the followingdetailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like referencenumerals refer to like parts and in which:

FIG. 1 is a Universal Ticket Transport of a preferred embodiment forbottom face magnetic stripe locations;

FIG. 2 is a Universal Ticket Transport for upper face magnetic stripelocations;

FIG. 3a shows an alternate downward entry angle and straight exittransport configuration;

FIG. 3b illustrates roller positions for a straight entry transportconfiguration;

FIG. 3c illustrates roller positions for an upward entry angle transportconfiguration;

FIG. 4 is an illustration of a method of the preferred embodiment forreading, writing, and verifying a ticket for a gate application;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the Universal Ticket Transport processorcircuit;

FIG. 6 shows a top view of a single belt configuration of the UniversalTicket Transport installed in a gate;

FIG. 7 shows a side view of a single belt configuration of the UniversalTicket Transport installed in a gate;

FIG. 8 is a perspective drawing of a back view of a dual belt UniversalTicket Transport assembly of a preferred embodiment; and

FIG. 9 is perspective partial exploded view of a front view of a dualbelt Universal Ticket Transport assembly of a preferred embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The following detailed description utilizes a number of acronyms whichare generally well known in the art. While definitions are typicallyprovided with the first instance of each acronym, for convenience, Table1 below provides a list of the acronyms and abbreviations and theirrespective definitions.

TABLE 1 ACRONYM DEFINITION A/D Analog-to-Digital ADC Analog-to-DigitalConverter AFC Automatic Fare Collection High C 2750 +/− 20% Oersteadsips Inches per second Low C 300 +/− 20% Oersteads PCB Printed CircuitBoard PLL Phase Locked Loop UTT Universal Ticket Transport Assembly

FIG. 1 illustrates a partial view of a Universal Ticket Transport (UTT)10, also referred to as “the transport”, of a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention. A ticket 20 moves through the transport belt path18 of the transport mechanism 10 between two belts 22, 24. The UTT of apreferred embodiment is a dual-belt UTT 150 having a first set of belts152 and a second set of belts 154 of belt assemblies A and C,respectively, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. In an alternate embodiment, asshown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a single set of belts 22, 24 hold the ticket 20in place as it travels through the transport 10. The dual belt UTT 150of the preferred embodiment keeps the ticket 20 straight in thetransport, and provides a better grip of the ticket 20.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the belts 22, 24 are made from an elasticmaterial, and are installed onto the rollers 30, 32, 34, 36 in astretched condition to eliminate the need for belt tensioners. This beltconfiguration allows for varying thicknesses of tickets, includingplastic tickets that are typically 0.010 inches (0.25 mm) thick, andpaper tickets that are typically 0.007 inches thick (0.18 mm). Therollers 30, 32, 34, 36 are located at the ends and at the middle portionof the transport 10. The rollers 30, 32 at each end of the transportbelt path 18 are drive rollers that are attached to shafts 50, 56, 70,76 mounted in ball bearings. The drive roller assemblies provide thepower input for the forward rotation rf, or the reverse rotation rr,that moves the ticket 20 through the transport path 18. The centerrollers 34, 36 provide the pinch to maintain a hold on the ticket 20.The center rollers 34, 36 also shape movement of the ticket 20 to ensurethat it passes over the magnetic head assembly 26, 28 in the mostoptimum manner. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, the belts 22, 152, 154 ofboth the single belt and dual belt transports 10, 150 may be offset toone side of the UTT 10, 150 to provide sufficient space for the variouspositions of the magnetic heads 26, 28.

The magnetic head 26, 28 type and position is configured duringmanufacture to suit the magnetic stripe position and coercivity for theticket type 20 that will be processed at a particular gate 82, shown inFIG. 7, or other automatic fare collection (AFC) mechanisms. Thelocation of the magnetic heads 26, 28 can also be changed in the field,if required, as the transport 10 is designed for easy reconfiguration.The location and quantity of the magnetic heads 26, 28 also is dependantupon the application for the UTT mechanism. For a ticket processor in agate application 82, two magnetic heads are used, one combined write andread head 26, and a verify (read head) 28. The ticket gate mechanismutilizes the second verify head 28 to provide verification during anencoding process and to reduce processing time as discussed furtherbelow. The heads 26, 28 are always populated in the same half of thetransport assembly 10.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the preferred embodiment of the UTT 150 alsoincludes head pressure rollers 126 which are located on top of eachmagnetic head assembly 26, 28 to ensure that the ticket is firmly heldin contact with the magnetic poles in the magnetic head assembly 26, 28.Referring again to FIG. 1, the rollers 36 are flexible to allow a ticket20 to pass between the heads 26, 28 and the rollers 34, 36 to force theticket 20 to contact the head 26, 28 without causing ticket slippage inthe transport path 18. The rollers 30, 34, 36 also are flexible enoughto allow a damaged or folded ticket 20 to pass through the transportpath 18. The magnetic heads 26, 28 of a preferred embodiment mustoperate on magnetic stripes to a maximum coercivity of 3000 Oersteads.However, the magnetic heads 26, 28 must not produce residual magnetismthat alters low coercivity tickets, for example, 300 Oersteads.

FIG. 6 illustrates the design of the mechanical assembly of the singlebelt set UTT 10 which provides alternate positions for center or offsetstripes. The illustrated UTT 10 is configured for a bottom face magneticstripe that is offset to the left of a center line 86 relative to theinsertion direction 40. For other magnetic stripe locations, themagnetic heads 26, 28 can be located at any position across the width,W, of the transport 10. The dual belt UTT 150 may also be configured forvarious magnetic stripe locations by rearranging the belt assemblies A,C and the magnetic head assemblies B, as shown in FIG. 8.

Continuing with FIGS. 6 and 7, at each end of the transport the driverollers 30, 32 are mounted onto shafts 52, 56, 72, 76 that protrudethrough bearings to a non-ticket side 156 of the UTT assembly 10. Foreach entry drive roller 30 there is a gear and timing pulley assembly 88mounted on the entry drive roller shafts 52, 56. The two gears 88 meshto drive both entry drive rollers 30 at the same speed and help preventslippage between the two belts. A timing pulley (not shown) couples thedrive from a motor 212, as illustrated in FIG. 5, utilizing a timingbelt (not shown). The gears 88 are arranged to always mesh irrespectiveof the selected roller 30 configuration. The motor drive belt can becoupled to any of the pulleys. If the transport 10 is used in anapplication where the drive is provided by a host motor, then a beltfrom that host mechanism may be coupled to one of the pulleys.

As shown in FIG. 1, the Universal Ticket Transport 10 of the preferredembodiment provides a variety of holes for the bearings, i.e., shafts,that support the transport rollers 30, 32 at each end of the transport10. The variety of holes allow the entry and exit drive rollers 30, 32to be assembled to accommodate different entry and exit angles 40, 42for the tickets to enter and exit the transport 10. The most suitableset of holes for a particular installation of the UTT 10 are selectedduring assembly at the factory. FIG. 1 illustrates a downward entryangle 40 for a ticket 20. The downward angle results from the placementof the entry drive rollers 30 on shafts placed in hole positions 50 and56, with the upper belt 22 placed around the roller corresponding tohole 56, and the lower belt 24 placed around the roller corresponding tohole 50. An upward exit angle 42 is achieved by placing the exit rollers32 and shafts in holes 70 and 76. FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate the exitholes 70, 72, 74, 76 and the entry holes 50, 52, 54, 56 that are part ofside plates 156, 158 of the dual belt UTT.

FIGS. 3a, 3 b, and 3 c illustrate other configurations for placement ofrollers 30, 32 to provide various entry and exit angles 40, 42. In FIG.3a, a straight exit angle 42 is achieved by placement of the shaft andexit roller 32 of the upper belt 22 in hole 76, and placement of theshaft and exit roller 32 of the lower belt 24 in hole 72. FIG. 3billustrates a straight angle entry 40 by placing the shafts and rollers30 of the upper and lower belts in holes 56 and 52, respectively. Aupward entry angle 40 of FIG. 3c is achieved by placement of the shaftsfor the upper belt roller in hole 50, and for the lower belt roller inhole 54. Obviously, other combinations, not shown, for exit and entryangles 40, 42 are possible by simply reconfiguring the placement of theshafts and rollers 30, 32 at the ends of the transport belt path 18.

The UTT illustrated in FIG. 1 is configured such that the magnetic heads26, 28 face upward for processing tickets 20 having magnetic stripes onthe bottom of the tickets 20. The lower belt 24 is stretched around thecenter rollers 36 on shafts 60, 62 adjacent, i.e., in line with, themagnetic heads 26, 28. The upper belt 22 is stretched around centerroller 34 on shaft 64. FIG. 2 illustrates the configuration forprocessing tickets 20 having magnetic stripes on the top of the tickets20. This configuration is achieved by simply rotating the UTT assemblyso that the read/write and verify heads 26, 28 face downward, and thenorientating the pulleys and gears as required. The upper belt 22 isstretched around the center rollers 36 adjacent the magnetic heads 26,28. The upper belt 24 is stretched around center roller 34 on shaft 64.The proper entry angle 40 and exit angle 42 may be configured bychoosing an appropriate combination of entry holes 70, 72, 74, 76 andexit holes 50, 52, 54, 56. Thus, the combination of the rotation of theUTT mechanical assemblies and the placement of the drive belts 24, 26and magnetic head 26, 28 assemblies allows the UTT 10 to be configuredfor a variety of magnetic stripe tickets utilizing the same UTTcomponents and subassemblies.

FIG. 4 illustrates a ticket processing diagram of a preferred embodimentof the Universal Ticket Transport 10 for a gate application whichfunctions to read/write and to verify a ticket. At position 100, theticket is inserted through the entry bezel 44 and is pinched between thebelts (not shown) in the entry pinch rollers (not shown). When thepatron releases the ticket 20, the transport belts draw the ticket 20into the transport 10. The ticket 20 moves from the initial pinchposition 100 passed an bezel entry sensor (not shown). A bezel entrysensor (not shown) may be used to determine if the ticket 20 has beeninserted correctly. If the ticket is not inserted correctly, the beltdirection is reversed rr, and the ticket 20 is pushed back through theentry bezel 44.

The accepted ticket 20 continues into the transport passed a write entrysensor 38 which is utilized to initiate the read function of theread/write magnetic head 26. The ticket 20 travels over the read/writehead 26 until completely read. The read ticket position 102 of a firstembodiment requires a length area of L1+L2, where L1 is the length of atypical ticket. The transport belt, i.e., the motor 212, then reversesdirection, and the ticket 20 is moved back over the read/write head 26,as shown by position 104. The maximum distance required to reverse theticket over the read/write head is a complete ticket length, L1. Thetransport belt then reverses to advance the ticket 20 for encoding. Asthe ticket 20 advances through position 106, the ticket 20 is operatedupon in a write-only capacity on the first magnetic head 26. In position108, the write continues on head 26, and the verify process is initiatedsimultaneously on the verify head 28. In the verify-only position 110,the write has completed, and the verify continues to the end of theencoding on the magnetic stripe of the ticket 20. An exit sensor 48indicates when the ticket trailing edge has moved beyond the magnetichead. The ticket is moved out of the transport through the exit bezel 46to the point where it is no longer in the belt pinch at position 112. Abezel exit sensor (not shown) may be used to indicate that the ticket isout of the transport 10.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the worst case transport belt length requiredfor the read, the write, and the verify process for the Universal TicketTransport 10 is two card lengths L1 in addition to a distance L3 betweenthe read/write head 26 and the verify head 28. The encode length istypically less than the length L1 of the ticket 20 since the entiremagnetic strip will not be usable for reading or writing. Distance L3 inthe preferred embodiment is 1.13 inches (2.87 cm). Distance L3 isselected to provide a sufficient separation between the magnetic headsto eliminate cross talk during the simultaneous write and verifyprocesses. Distance L3 also is selected to provide a physical separationbetween the rollers which is required to allow the ticket to flex sothat it will remain in contact with the magnetic heads. L2 is chosen ina range such that the ticket is fully into the UTT prior to the magneticencoding processing. This ensures jitter free operation of the process.It should be appreciated that other embodiments of the process of FIG. 4are not shown, e.g., for other applications where it is only necessaryto write and verify the ticket contents.

The UTT 10 includes an entry sensor 38 and an exit sensor 48 which arelocated in the UTT transport path 18. The sensors 38, 48 of thepreferred embodiment are optically transmissive interrupter types ofsensors. Other sensors for ticket bezel entry/exit information (notshown) are mounted in the host equipment, e.g., the ticket gate. Thesensors 38, 48 are connected to the UTT processor circuit 200, shown inFIG. 5, via cables and connectors.

The UTT transport 10 of an alternate embodiment of the present inventioncan operate with only one compound read/write head assembly 26 where theticket is reciprocated back and forth over the head completing the read,write and verify functions with separate cycles. However, to reduceprocessing time, the second head 28 is added to provide a verifycapability while the ticket 20 is being written to by the first head 26.This configuration of the UTT 10 saves one complete reciprocation of theticket 20. This is especially advantageous in a gate application 82where high-speed operation is critical. The information shown below isfor the dual head UTT 10, 150 of the preferred embodiment, which is theworst-case design requirement, demanding the most power and processingcapability. Slower process times and additional reciprocations may beadded in alternate embodiments of the invention without requiringhardware design changes.

The UTT 10 of the preferred embodiment is designed to process patrontickets in less than 0.5 seconds in a gate application, and 1.0 secondin a ticket vending machine application. The UTT 10 is designed to be aflexible solution to a wide array of ticket formats and densities. In afirst embodiment of the invention, with a typical card having a lengthof 3.38 inches (8.58 cm), and where L1=3.38 inches (8.58 cm), L2=2.5inches (6.35 cm), and L3=1.13 inches (2.87 cm), then the total distancetraveled by the card is 16.27 inches (41.33 cm). The transport speedthen is calculated within a given allowable processing time as follows:

Total distance traveled=16.27 inches;

Ticket reversal time=0.04 seconds each (estimated)=0.08 seconds;

Total processing time available=0.5 seconds;

Total time available for processing excluding reversals=0.42 seconds;

Transport speed required=16.27/0.42=38.74 inches per second (ips);

Round up Transport speed=40 ips;

20% design margin in the transport speed=48 ips (1.22 meters/sec).

Referring to FIG. 5, the electrical system of the UTT is composed of aprinted circuit board (PCB), or processor circuit 200, and is attachedto the transport assembly 10, 150. As shown in FIG. 8 of the dual-beltUTT 150, the printed circuit board 200 is located on the underside ofthe UTT 150. The UTT processor circuit 200 of a preferred embodiment hasa number of subsystems including a microprocessor controller, e.g., acentral processing unit (CPU) 202 and programmable logic 204, amotor/encoder interface 214 connected to a bi-directional transportmotor 212 and shaft encoder 90, magnetic read and write circuitry 206connected to the read/write and verify magnetic heads 26, 28, and aninput/output interface 216. The UTT 10 of a preferred embodimentoperates on a 24 v DC power supply 210, which is utilized to generate aregulated 5 VDC power supply 208 for the processor circuitry 202, 204. Adebug port 218 is provided for debug activity through an RJ45 connector.

The UTT processor circuit 200 provides local control for the transport10 and communicates data through a serial interface 220, e.g., anRS422/485 interface, to a host controller 222. The UTT processor circuit200 performs the functions of controlling the bi-directional motor 212,accepting shaft encoder inputs up to 16 kHz, driving a solenoid output,reading emitter receiver paired sensor inputs, reading and encoding lowand high coercivity tickets 20, and communicating ticket processinginformation with the host controller 222. The UTT process circuit 200provides only mechanical functionality for the UTT 10, 150. All ticketprocessing related activities, such as fare table analysis and encodeddata, is provided by the host system 222.

The input/output interface 216 includes inputs for additional sensorslocated in the entry and exit bezels 44, 46, or for other host equipmentsignals. The sensors of the preferred embodiment of the UTT 10 include asensor (not shown) indicating a ticket present at entry bezel, aorientation/alignment hole (not shown), a write entry sensor 38, averify exit sensor 48, an exit bezel sensor (not shown), and a sensorindicating that the ticket 20 is completely out of transport path (notshown). The preferred embodiment of the UTT processor circuit 200 alsoincludes an on-board temperature sensor to provide thermal detectioncapability through the use of an analog to digital (A/D) converter whichis accurate to +/−5 degrees C. A watchdog circuit is included on theprocessor circuit board 200 of the preferred embodiment to ensure thatthe write head driver is not stuck in the “on” state. The processor 202,204 digital outputs include a diverter solenoid signal, a system goodindicator, motor control outputs for direction and enable control, aread/verify selection enable, a transmit enable for RS485 communicationswith the host controller 22, and select lines for bit density and motorspeed settings.

Referring to FIGS. 5, 6 and 8, the drive motor assembly consists of apermanent magnet DC brush motor 212 and a spur or planetary type gearboxassembly 88. The DC motor 212 drives the transport in either direction,rf and rr. The motor 212 of the preferred embodiment includes anintegral, i.e., motor mounted, shaft encoder 90. The motor/encoderinterface 214 includes a shaft encoder/phase locked loop electronicscombination that is used to provide the clock input for the write head26 during magnetic encoding, and to generate a count for the read datacell times. The shaft encoder 90 also is used to provide ticketpositional information. The shaft encoder 90 is mounted onto the side ofthe transport, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, where it is driven by a pulley(not shown) directly contacting the ticket belt next to the magneticwrite head 26.

Mounting the shaft encoder 90 in the transport 10, 150 provides the bestcompliance with the motion of the ticket 20 minimizing jitter caused bybelt elasticity and timing belt cogging. The shaft encoder 90 mountingalso provides for embodiments of the invention where the UTT is drivenfrom the host equipment 222 and does not have it's own motor. The pulsesper revolution output of the shaft encoder 90 is matched for the bestfrequency for the phase locked loop (PLL) multiplier/divider. The PLLand associated control software generates the correct magnetic writedata frequency by appropriately multiplying and then dividing the shaftencoder output. Connectors and cables electrically connect the motor 212and shaft encoder 90 to the UTT processor circuit 200.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate a single belt UTT 10 installed in a transitsystem fare gate 82. The fare gate 82 includes the UTT 10 magneticstripe reader, as well as a contactless card reader 84. The entry bezel44 provides an angled θ entry, such that the angled placement of the UTT10 necessitates a downward entry angle 40 . The downward entry angle 40and an upward exit angle 42 accomplished by placing the entrance rollershafts in holes 52 and 56, and the exit roller shafts in holes 72 and76. In addition, the ends of the transport 10 are adaptable to interfaceto the host gate equipment 82 utilizing entry and exit bezels 44, 46that provide the smooth transition for tickets into and out of the UTTmechanism 10. It should be appreciated that the universality of theticket transport 10 allows the ticket transport 10 to be installed ingates and ticketing machines of various configurations.

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate a front and back view of a dual belt UTT 150 ofa preferred embodiment of the present invention. The use of dual beltpairs 152, 154 of belt assemblies A, C maintain a better grip of theticket 20, and keeps the ticket 20 straight in the transport belt path18. The two belt assemblies A, C and the magnetic head assembly B may berearranged to accommodate the magnetic stripe configuration utilized ata particular ticket processing mechanism, i.e., a automatic farecollection device. The dual belt UTT may be configured for ticket entryand exit angles by the appropriate placement of the rollers in holes 50,52, 54, 56, 70, 72, 74, 76.

In any of the embodiments of the UTT 10, 150, a solenoid-activateddiverter (not shown) may be installed at one end of the transport 10,150. The location of the diverter is selected to suit the configurationof the exit rollers 32. The diverter and associated guides enable aticket 20 to be routed to another transport mechanism or into a capturebin (not shown).

The preferred embodiment of the Universal Ticket Transport 10, 150utilizes injection molded plastics for the majority of the parts. Theside plates 156, 158 are molded from a wear resistant plastic withticket guides and component mounting features molded in. All of thepulleys are plastic and are mounted on stainless steel shafts 50, 56,72, 76. The drive rollers 30, 32 at either end of the transport 10 aresupported by ball bearings mounted in the side plates 156, 158. Theidler rollers 32 in the middle of the transport 10 are molded fromself-lubricating plastic that enables them to run on the stainless steelshaft. The belts 22, 24, 152, 154 are made from an elastomer material,and the head pressure rollers 126 are made from foamed elastomer.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been describedabove by way of example only, it will be understood by those skilled inthe field that modifications may be made to the disclosed embodimentwithout departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined bythe appended claims.

We claim:
 1. A ticket reader/writer for processing a plurality oftickets in an automatic fare collection device, each of the plurality oftickets having at least one magnetic stripe located on at least one of aticket top surface or a ticket bottom surface, the ticket reader/writercomprising: at least one side plate having a plurality of holes foraccepting a plurality of rollers; the plurality of holes comprising: aplurality of entrance holes; a plurality of exits holes; and a pluralityof center holes; at least one belt assembly comprising; an upperentrance roller and a lower entrance roller of the plurality of rollers,the upper entrance roller and the lower entrance roller located in twoof the plurality of entrance holes, the the upper entrance roller andthe lower entrance roller being adapted to accept a ticket of theplurality of tickets at a predetermined entry angle; an upper exitroller and a lower exit roller of the plurality of rollers, the upperexit roller and the lower exit roller located in two of the plurality ofexit holes, the two of the plurality of exit rollers chosen to eject theticket at a predetermined exit angle; at least one upper center rollerand at least one lower center roller of the plurality of rollers, the atleast one upper center roller and the at least one lower center rollerlocated in two of the plurality of center holes; an upper belt stretchedaround the upper entrance roller, the at least one upper center roller,and the upper exit roller; and a lower belt stretched around the lowerentrance roller, the at least one lower center roller, and the lowerexit roller; wherein the upper belt and the lower belt form a transportpath therebetween for the ticket; a drive mechanism for rotating atleast one of the plurality of rollers in a forward direction to move theticket through the transport path; and at least one magnetic head forreading from and writing to the ticket, the at least one magnetic headlocated adjacent one of the at least one lower center roller and the atleast one upper center roller, the at least one magnetic head furtherpositioned along a width of the ticket reader/writer corresponding to aplacement of the at least one magnetic stripe of the ticket; andwherein, the rollers, the belts, and the magnetic head may bereconfigured so that the ticket reader/writer may be adapted to processtickets with different magnetic stripe locations.
 2. The ticketreader/writer as in claim 1, wherein the ticket has a ticket bottomsurface magnetic stripe, and wherein the at least one magnetic head islocated adjacent the at least one lower center roller.
 3. The ticketreader/writer as in claim 1, wherein the ticket has a ticket top surfacemagnetic stripe, and wherein the at least one magnetic head is locatedadjacent the at least one upper center roller.
 4. The ticketreader/writer as in claim 1, wherein the drive mechanism moves theticket over the at least one magnetic head to complete a read process,rotates at least one of the plurality of rollers in a reverse directionto move the ticket back over the at least one magnetic head after theread process, then moves the ticket in the forward direction to initiatea write process using the at least one magnetic head.
 5. The ticketreader/writer as in claim 1, wherein the at least one magnetic head islocated in a permanent position, and wherein the ticket reader/writer isin a first orientation for providing a transport path having the atleast one magnetic head in a plane below the transport path forprocessing the ticket having a ticket bottom surface magnetic stripe. 6.The ticket reader/writer as in claim 5, wherein a second orientationthat is approximately opposite to the first orientation, wherein thesecond orientation provides a transport path having the at least onemagnetic head in a plane above the transport path for processing theticket having a ticket top surface magnetic stripe.
 7. The ticketreader/writer as in claim 1, further comprising a shaft encoder coupledto the drive mechanism, the shaft encoder utilized for providing a clockinput for the at least one magnetic head and for providing ticketpositional information of the ticket.
 8. The ticket reader/writer as inclaim 1, wherein the at least one magnetic head comprises: a firstmagnetic head for reading from and writing to the ticket, wherein thedrive mechanism moves the ticket over the first magnetic head tocomplete a read process, rotates at least one of the plurality ofrollers in a reverse direction to move the ticket back over the firstmagnetic head after the read process, then moves the ticket in theforward direction to initiate a write process using the first magnetichead; and a second verify-only magnetic head for performing a verifyprocess of the ticket.
 9. The ticket reader/writer as in claim 8,wherein the verify process is at least partially simultaneous with thewrite process.
 10. The ticket reader/writer as in claim 1, wherein theupper entrance roller and the lower entrance roller are positioned suchthat the predetermined entry angle is one of a downward entry angle, astraight entry angle, and an upward entry angle, the predetermined entryangle corresponding to a required entry angle of the automatic farecollection device.
 11. The ticket reader/writer as in claim 1, whereinthe upper exit roller and the lower exit roller are positioned such thatthe predetermined exit angle is one of a downward exit angle, a straightexit angle, and an upward exit angle, the predetermined exit anglecorresponding to a required exit angle of the automatic fare collectiondevice.
 12. The ticket reader/writer as in claim 1, wherein the at leastone belt assembly comprises a first belt assembly and a second beltassembly.
 13. A method of processing a ticket in a read/write mechanismin an automatic fare collection device, the method comprising the stepsof: providing at least one side plate in the read/write mechanism forsupporting at least one belt assembly, the at least one belt assemblyhaving a plurality of rollers in a plurality of holes of the at leastone side plate, the plurality of rollers comprising an upper entryroller, an upper center roller, an upper exit roller a lower entryroller, at least one lower center roller, and a lower exit roller;providing an upper belt stretched around the upper entry roller, theupper center roller, and the upper exit roller; providing a lower beltstretched around the lower entry roller, the at least one lower centerroller, and the lower exit roller, wherein the upper belt and the lowerbelt provide a transport path therebetween for the ticket; placing theupper entry roller and the lower entry roller into a first entry holeand a second entry hole selected from the plurality of holes forplacement of the upper entry roller and the lower entry roller toproduce a desired entry angle of the transport path; placing the upperexit roller and the lower exit roller into a first exit hole and asecond exit hole selected from the plurality of holes for placement ofthe upper exit roller and the lower exit roller to produce a desiredexit angle of the transport path; providing a magnetic head assemblycomprising a first magnetic head adjacent the at least one lower centerroller; driving the upper belt and the lower belt in a first directionto carry the ticket over the first magnetic head to read from theticket; and driving the upper belt and the lower belt in a reversedirection to back up the ticket over the first magnetic head; drivingthe upper belt and the lower belt in the first direction to carry theticket over the first magnetic head to write to the ticket; and theupper exit roller and the lower exit roller being adapted to eject theticket from the automatic fare collection device between the upper exitroller and the lower exit roller at the desired exit angle; and wherein,the rollers, the belts, and the magnetic head may be reconfigured sothat the ticket reader/writer may be adapted to process tickets withdifferent magnetic stripe locations.
 14. The method of claim 13, whereinthe magnetic head assembly comprises a first magnetic head and a secondmagnetic head, further comprising the steps of: verifying the ticketutilizing the second magnetic head, wherein the step of verifying theticket is at least partially simultaneous with the step of writing tothe ticket.
 15. The method of claim 13, wherein the magnetic headassembly, the upper center roller, and the at least one lower centerroller are in permanent positions.
 16. The method of claim 15, whereinthe first magnetic head is adjacent the at least one lower center rollerfor processing a ticket having a bottom face magnetic stripe.
 17. Themethod of claim 15, wherein the first magnetic head is adjacent theupper center roller for processing a ticket having a top face magneticstripe.
 18. The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of:providing a shaft encoder and phase locked loop circuit; utilizing theshaft encoder and phase locked loop circuit for the steps of: generatinga clock input for the write head; generating a count for a plurality ofread data cell times of the magnetically encoded stripe; and providingticket positional information.
 19. The method of claim 13, wherein theupper belt, the lower belt, the magnetic head assembly, and areader/writer mechanism may be adapted so that the automatic farecollection device may be adapted to process tickets with differentmagnetic stripe locations so that the magnetic stripe of the ticketpasses under the magnetic head assembly.
 20. A method for reading fromand writing to a ticket having a magnetic stripe, the method comprisingthe steps of; inserting the ticket through an entry bezel and between aset of belts to advance the ticket in a forward direction; advancing theticket passed a write entry sensor to initiate a read process; readingthe ticket using a read/write head; moving the ticket in a reversedirection back over the read/write head; advancing the ticket over theread/write head for an encoding process; initiating a verify process ona read-only head, wherein the verify process is initiated at leastpartially simultaneously with the encoding process; and moving theticket out of an exit bezel; and wherein, the rollers, the belts, andthe magnetic head may be reconfigured so that the ticket reader/writermay be adapted to process tickets with different magnetic stripelocations.
 21. A ticket reader/writer for processing a plurality oftickets in an automatic fare collection device, each of the plurality oftickets having at least one magnetic stripe located on at least one of aticket top surface and a ticket bottom surface, the ticket reader/writercomprising: at least one side plate having a plurality of holes foraccepting a plurality of rollers; the plurality of holes comprising: aplurality of entrance holes; a plurality of exits holes; and a pluralityof center holes; at least one belt assembly comprising; an upperentrance roller and a lower entrance roller of the plurality of rollers,the upper entrance roller and the lower entrance roller located in twoof the plurality of entrance holes, the two of the plurality of entranceholes chosen to accept a ticket of the plurality of tickets at apredetermined entry angle; an upper exit roller and a lower exit rollerof the plurality of rollers, the upper exit roller and the lower exitroller located in two of the plurality of exit holes, the two of theplurality of exit holes chosen to eject the ticket at a predeterminedexit angle; at least one upper center roller and at least one lowercenter roller of the plurality of rollers, the at least one upper centerroller and the at least one lower center roller located in two of theplurality of center holes; an upper belt stretched around the upperentrance roller, the at least one upper center roller, and the upperexit roller; and a lower belt stretched around the lower entranceroller, the at least one lower center roller, and the lower exit roller;wherein the upper belt and the lower belt forming a transport paththerebetween for the ticket; a drive mechanism for rotating at least oneof the plurality of rollers in a forward direction to move the ticketthrough the transport path; and at least one magnetic head for readingfrom and writing to the ticket, the at least one magnetic head locatedadjacent one of the at least one lower center roller and the at leastone upper center roller, the at least one magnetic head furtherpositioned along a width of the ticket reader/writer corresponding to aplacement of the at least one magnetic stripe of the ticket, wherein theat least one magnetic head comprises: a first magnetic head for readingfrom and writing to the ticket, wherein the drive mechanism moves theticket over the first magnetic head to complete a read process, rotatesat least one of the plurality of rollers in a reverse direction to movethe ticket back over the first magnetic head after the read process,then moves the ticket in the forward direction to initiate a writeprocess using the first magnetic head; and a second verify-only magnetichead for performing a verify process of the ticket.
 22. The ticketreader/writer as in claim 21, wherein the verify process is at leastpartially simultaneous with the write process.
 23. A method ofprocessing a ticket in a read/write mechanism in an automatic farecollection device, the method comprising the steps of: providing atleast one side plate in the read/write mechanism for supporting at leastone belt assembly, the at least one belt assembly having a plurality ofrollers in a plurality of holes of the at least one side plate, theplurality of rollers comprising an upper entry roller, an upper centerroller, an upper exit roller a lower entry roller, at least one lowercenter roller, and a lower exit roller; providing an upper beltstretched around the upper entry roller, the upper center roller, andthe upper exit roller; providing a lower belt stretched around the lowerentry roller, the at least one lower center roller, and the lower exitroller, wherein the upper belt and the lower belt provide a transportpath therebetween for the ticket; choosing a first and a second entryholes from the plurality of holes for 14 placement of the upper entryroller and the lower entry roller to produce a desired entry angle ofthe transport path; choosing a first and a second exit holes from theplurality of holes for placement of the upper exit roller and the lowerexit roller to produce a desired exit angle of the transport path;providing a magnetic head assembly comprising a first magnetic headadjacent the at least one lower center roller; introducing the ticketbetween the upper entry roller and the lower entry roller at the desiredentry angle; driving the upper belt and the lower belt in a firstdirection to carry the 24 ticket over the first magnetic head to readfrom the ticket; and driving the upper belt and the lower belt in areverse direction to back up 26 the ticket over the first magnetic head;driving the upper belt and the lower belt in the first direction tocarry the 28 ticket over the first magnetic head to write to the ticket;and ejecting the ticket from the automatic fare collection devicebetween the 30 upper exit roller and the lower exit roller at thedesired exit angle; providing a shaft encoder and phase locked loopcircuit; utilizing the shaft encoder and phase locked loop circuit forthe steps of: generating a clock input for the write head; generating acount for a plurality of read data cell times of the magneticallyencoded stripe; and providing ticket positional information.